New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
A HANDSOME NEW BRIDGE.
THE STRUCTURE TO SPAN THE HARLEM


WORK BEING RAPIDLY PUSHED.
II work the Manhattan Bridge, as tho now
stone and steel structure over the Harlem River ut
One-hundred-and-cighy -irst-st. has boon officially
named continues to be pushed has been done thus
far there little doubt that the bridge will be open
for traffic within the time specified that Is by June
90, 1883. 1t is only year since the project was
started, but already the work is moro than half done
The three main piers ready for the metal SUPER
structure in fact the massive steel pcdcstas which
distribute the thrust Of the arches upon tho piers are
now being placed in position. OF the 1000 tons OF
steel and iron that the bridge viii require consider
ably than half has been already cast, and last
week the erection OF the timber staging for carrying
the arches during construction was begun
The energy displayed by tho contractor, Miles
Terney, who does the masonry and the Passaic
Rolling Mill Company. OF Paterson. whose contract
includes all tho metal work. Will he better appreciated
by brief examination of the labor involved in tho
undertaking, and especially in the portion OF 1t ac-
cOmpiished The bridge is 1919 feet in length and
151 above the river. or over a third longer and
about fifty feet higher than High Bridge IL will
consist Of steel arches OF sos feet span each in
the clear; three granite piers, each forty feet ch
at tho springins line Of the arches, and two abut-
ments Of masonry. The abutmcnt tho east side
of the river is 342 feet long that the west sidc
277 feet Through each of these three arched ma
sonry passages, 60 feet In wGh, Viii run These
land arches not contemplated In the original
change certainly makes marked improvement in
the architectural appearance OF the structure.
The masonry, as stated is already far Advanced.
The most difficult portions OF the work finished.
OF these perhaps the most important and that which
deserves special notice is the great pneumatic caisson
uron which pier No. q the cast bank right at the
waters edge, Is founded In its general dimensions
this ranks third among tho American bridge caissons.
the which was butt the Ncw-YOrk pier OF the
East River Bridge being the largcst-172 by 1O2
feet. From ont TO out of sheetng the Manhattan
cassOn 104 feet In length, ffy-our feet In
width and Is thirteen feet in height from the bottom
Of the shorc the top Of the deck IT ia butt en-
tlry Of yellow pine timber IL by 1c inches, squared
and tarrc1 timber, and contains 100000 feet OF
wood and SO, 600 pounds Of metal work. The shoe
OF the caissOn stops at point forty feet below mean
high tide resting directly upon solid rock. After the
point reached az which II decided % stop
the casson tho rock surface carefully cleared Of
all debris and the entire wording chamber and shafts
hled with concrete This completed about May
l. Since then the mason work has progressed so
rapidly that enough Is finished for one to get {
fair idea of the appears Of this part Of the bridge
The stone used Is Maine granite massive In size aud
remarkably wei laid.
While Mr. Terncy has been pushing his part o.
me undertaking the contractors for the metal supcr
tructure have been equally active. An cndre ne9
oant Of machinery had ~ be constructed for handing
ne immense seements Of which the steel arches urc
composed There are thlrty-iour OF tDcsc segment.
"A each rib or arch and six ribs in each span, making
lo8 scgments in all. Each Of them weighs about
ten tons and Is composed OF steel plates, curveI 10
give the arch tho form OF larabola Upon these
arches viii wrought iron columns, thoroughly
braced together and supporting the roadway above
The floor system OF the roadway consists Of transverse
Iron floor beams, resting these columns and carry
ing the neitudinal iron strngers, which entirely
covered with wrought iron buckle plates. This gives
the structure solid Iron floor. upon which VIII be
laid the sand, concrete and granite blocks Of the
roadway. The roadway proper VII be fifty feet
wide with sidewalks Oh both sides fifteen feet in
width. Within few weeks Ito Rolling Mill COM
pany will have two or three hundred hands at work
stringng the arches This will take up most Of the
winter.
Mr. TcIney Is TO receive 81 21O, 900 for the stone
work Tho rolling mill company's bid Soi5,OOO.
thus making the total cost OF the bridge S2 ,0Oo
and there is little reason to think that It VIII exceed
this IS Is generally known, the work Is IN
the hands Of commission consisting Of Jacob LOdI-
lard, Vernon II. Brown and David J. King. William
r. Hutton is their principal engineer. The resident
engineer is John Bogcrr. Mr.. Tlerney suporntends
his portion OF the work personally though he has two
or three assistants. The engineers Of the Rolling
Mil Company +. II. Leers. 1hoinas C. Spcnsc ano
st. John Clark. James Yoardley Is the superintendent
steel-arch bridges are 'un novelty In this coun-
several years Hence 1t IL not surprising TO find
that the Manhattan is attracting considerable atten-
OF them looking at it the other day, when Mr. Fteloy:
the consulting engineer Of the new alaeouct eallei
ever notice." he said chow many important pieces OF
engineering TO be found within radius Of half
mile from High Bridget First High Bridge Itself,
model work Of its kind with tho old aqueolcu running
over II. Then there is the syphon OF the aque
duct under .ho river which Will soon he completed
Besides may Be IA, named the NS New %1 G HS
Just below here. the oabIe road just the hill and
| lastly the Manhattan Bridge tsch conspicuous
| example OF modern engineering SKILL"
The new bridge has had married. effect on The
two districts that lt Will connect. Property has gone
| up greatly in value within tho last year, In sOm'
Instances from fifty TO two hundred per cont Tn,
| reason for this rise thus planned by prOmnen
resident yesterday: Heretofore" he said "therc ha
been practically connection between the two banks
OF tho Harlem River High Bridge could only be used by
foot pas engers. There l. ferry To get hOrs'
and wagon across you had TO 20 away down to thu
bridge at One hundred andt hirty -fthst. This was
decidedly awkward. Tho bridge, however. doc
away with the difficulty and hcncc there Is pttt
boom ON both sizes of the river"